Improving Villa target home victory over Cardiff

We’re back at Villa Park this weekend, and looking to stretch our unbeaten start under new manager Steve Bruce to seven league matches.

After recording a 10th draw in just 17 league matches at Brighton on Friday, it’s important that we start to translate improved performances into victories. Having faced three of the league’s current top five in the last month, our next two home matches are against sides in trouble at the bottom of the Championship table.

However, Saturday’s opponents Cardiff City have enjoyed their own upturn in form after changing managers in early October. Neil Warnock took over with the club in 23rd place, but has taken the Bluebirds out of the drop zone after picking up 10 points from his first six matches.

Despite a torrent of draws, we have managed to stay unbeaten at home in the league. The frustration is that we have led in four of the five drawn matches at Villa Park, and surrendered the lead inside the final five minutes against Huddersfield, Nottingham Forest and Brentford. An eighth 1-1 draw of the season against Cardiff is priced at 6.30 on EnergyBet.

Jack Grealish should return to the side in place of either Gary Gardner or Ashley Westwood, as we can afford to be much more attack minded against a side that has enjoyed just 33% possession in their last two away matches. Grealish is 2.90 on EnergyBet to score at any time.

Bruce lauded last week’s display at Brighton as ‘the best we’ve produced’ under his stewardship, and will be confident that a repeat performance against Cardiff will herald a much needed three points. These are the matches we need to be winning if we are to mount a promotion challenge.

EnergyBet Match Odds:

Villa 1.90 | Draw 3.40 | Cardiff 4.00

EnergyBet Expects:

• Villa first team to score @ 1.59
• Grealish to score at any time @ 2.90

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